need help on decision to step up 9800gtx+

Uhm... I'd say go for the step up program and get a GTX280/9800GX2/48701GB (if ATI is allowed also, lol). If you *really* need a PC around those days, get a cheap ass card and game on that on the meantime. I'd say that would be cheaper than getting the 2nd 9800GTX+ and the MoBo.

Esop!

is gtx260 bad? and 280 i have to add 200 more.. its too much.. and is the 9800gx2 better than the gtx260? if i'd go sli in the future, which one is the best to have for the meantime? 9800gx2 or gtx260?

It depends on how much each cost. Newegg had EVGA 9800gx2 at $280, and EVGA gtx260 core 216 at $300. The 9800gx2 blows gtx260 core 216 away in term of performance. Not sure what's the difference in price with trade up program.

It's not possible for single gtx260 core 216 to outperform single 9800gx2 no matter how long you wait. The gap is far too big.

john_antonio I don't know why your pc is stuttering but I don't think it your video.I have the 9800gtx and I don't get stuttering in any game,playing crysis warhead and it's a pretty taxing game.evga has a good plan with the step up plan,if I wanted to step up to a better card I would go with the gtx 280.but like I said I don't beleave it's your video card causeing the stuttering ,also does it do it in any other game?still with that said evga plan I still would step up to the gtx 280.and do what Yuka suggested just use a cheap card until you get the new card in.hope this helps you out

Yep, but we know that for SLI it's better to have 2 GTX260's than 2 9800GX2's, right? XD

Esop!

ive run both a 8800 gt and a 4850 and on both hellgate runs like crap.(at your res that card should be able to handle hellgate maxed) it was never a really optimized game. i wouldnt blame it on your card. if you got the funds go for the step up and grab the gtx 260.

If no sli, and at the same price, obviously 9800gx2. The performance gap between it and gtx260 core 216 is quite big.

Power consumption chart, idle and load.
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3408&p=9
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=22

At load, 289.2w compared to 274.8w.

Neither support dx10.1 now, and neither will in the future. If you want dx10.1, only ATI cards support it.

Although as it looks now, game developers will likely skip over to dx11. Assassin's Creed is the only game that support dx10.1 to date.

I've never tried the Step Up program, but if I remember correctly, it has a 3 month limit. DX11 debuts with Windows 7, which is officially announced to launch in January 2010, although rumored to arrive as soon as June 2009. Either way, it's long past 3 months.

If it's a 9800gx2, the performance difference with 9800gtx+ might be worth it, and that is a big might. Gtx261, no matter how many cores, is definitely not worth trying to sell the 9800gtx+, taking a loss in the process, and buy a whole new one from the store.

Lol, that's a lot of speculation there. I don't really want to guess. Although it would certainly be top of the line now. Should be enough to at least qualify as mid range by the end of 2009.

A 750i like this should do.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131232
SLI boards cost more than non-sli ones of similar overclocking performance, take that into account when deciding.

Yes, actually, they do. 750i/780i runs at 1333mhz fsb natively, and reliably oc to 1600mhz. X38/48/p45 run at 1600mhz fsb natively, and reliably oc to 2000+mhz. X38/48 support full dual pcie2.0x16 crossfire, and cost $200 or more. But p45 cost as low as $100, while delivering the same performance, just no cf/sli.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128345
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131333

However, q6600 runs on high 9x multiplier, and is not demanding in term of fsb. That's part of why it's a popular oc chip. 1600mhz = 4x400 ->9x400 = 3.6ghz. So it takes 1600mhz fsb to run at 3.6ghz. Your target of 3.0ghz is well within 750i's oc capacity.

If you're asking what I'd choose, I'd take the 9800gx2 over gtx260 216. There is a significant performance gap between the two. But that's up to you. You'll still get a noticeable fps increase with gtx260 216, just not as much.

But if it's gtx260 216, either wait for it or stick with 9800gtx+. Trying to resell the 9800gtx+ at a loss and buy a new gtx260 216 is definitely not worth it.